I?m pleased to see that the vaccination rate for young people in Nottingham is really high. Almost three-quarters of those aged 16-19 have now had their first Covid jab ? this is a fantastic response and I?d like to thank them for the way they have risen to the challenge presented by the pandemic. I know that our two universities are also working hard to encourage new and returning students to get vaccinated before they arrive for the new academic year. I hope that many more young people will follow their example ? especially as the vaccine rollout begins in secondary schools with children aged 12-15 in the coming weeks. I can?t stress enough how important it is to get vaccinated; it offers the best protection against the virus? and I want to see as many people as possible get this protection. It will also help to keep our rate of Covid low in the city.

For those who have yet to be vaccinated, you can still come forward for your jab. However, please be advised that the vaccination centre at The Forest Recreation Ground will close from Wednesday for a few weeks to get it ready for the winter. People who live in the area can go to the nearby Karimia Institute for first and second doses ? while more pharmacies are also coming online to offer the jabs (for example, Boots in the Victoria Centre). You can find your nearest vaccination site and opening times here: www.nhs.uk/grab-a-jab.

I was really pleased to join residents in Top Valley this weekend to celebrate their new council homes on Alan Clark Grove. A family fun day was organised to celebrate these new homes and to give neighbours the chance to come together. It was great to meet residents and experience the sense of community there and to hear about how much they are enjoying living in these new homes.

Nottingham City Homes have really transformed this site in Top Valley and created much-needed new and energy efficient for homes. The grove has been named in honour of my former colleague, the late Cllr Alan Clark who sadly passed away in 2017. Alan worked tirelessly for the local community and for environmental issues across the city and this lasting memorial is a fitting tribute to him.

Alan?s friends and family, including his widow and fellow Councillor Eunice Campbell-Clark (pictured), were also at the celebration to cut the ribbon and to plant a cherry tree in Alan?s honour. Find out more

Like many other public events, Nottingham City Councillors had to stop our regular ward surgeries due to the pandemic and the resulting restrictions. Now that the restrictions have been eased, I was really pleased at the weekend to attend my first surgery since the lockdown. It was great to meet with my ward constituents and hear about their concerns and good ideas for improving life in the Dales Ward and across the city.

Councillor face-to-face surgeries have now restarted in all wards - you can find out more about your local surgery and councillors here. You don?t need an appointment, you are welcome to just drop by.

It?s Recycling Week this week and the theme is ?Step It Up.' This means we are asking residents to look at their recycling and see what other items they could recycle.

The kitchen is often the focal point of recycling in a house and other rooms can be overlooked. Bathroom plastics and living room magazines and newspapers are examples of everyday items that can be recycled and are often missed. If we all find something extra to recycle, we can make a collective impact on the environment. Visit www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/recycleitright?to find out what you can put in your brown recycling bin.

In addition to household recycling bins, residents can now access small electrical item and food or drink carton recycling points. Small electrical items such as mobile phones, chargers, hairdryers and toasters can often contaminate recycling and while Tetrapaks are not collected in Nottingham?s residential kerbside recycling. These recycling-points will make it easy for people to recycle these additional unwanted items. See more here???????

There was welcome news this morning as National Highways reopened another lane on Clifton Bridge, meaning traffic leaving Nottingham can now travel in three lanes. In addition, one lane of the Queens Drive slip road has also reopened, which will make a huge difference, and is especially good news for people using the bus services on this route, which no longer need to be diverted. National Highways aim to reopen all lanes at the end of November, with overnight closures continuing throughout this month. For more information visit https://highwaysengland.co.uk/our-work/east-midlands/a52-clifton-bridge-repair-scheme/